Predictors associated with poor outcomes

This study aimed to determine predictive factors associated with poor outcomes among older adult inpatients in the convalescent rehabilitation ward. We also examined the validity of factors that were identified as predictive of poor outcomes. Study subjects were 104 older adult inpatients in the convalescent rehabilitation ward, divided into two groups based on outcome at discharge. Group I included the outcomes of death or transfer to an acute care hospital and Group II included all other outcomes. Data were retrospectively collected from older adults’ medical records, including: activities of daily living, swallowing grade, nutritional index, and blood biochemistry data. Logistic regression analysis was used to extract predictive factors associated with poor outcomes. Next, we calculated the Stratum-specific likelihood ratio (SSLR) for each extracted factor. Two items were extracted as predictive factors with AUCs ≥ 0.7 : N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and days from onset to hospitalization. The SSLRs showed the risk for a poor outcome increased when NT-proBNP was ≥ 2500 pg / ml, and when there were ≥ 35 days from onset to hospitalization. Our findings suggest these predictive factors provide a valid index to predict poor outcomes among older adults from the early stage of admission

Effective Stress Analysis for Evaluating the Effect of the Sand Compaction Pile Method During the 1995 Hyogoken-Nambu Earthquake

The effect of the sand compaction pile method as a countermeasure for liquefaction mainly consists of three factors: increase in the density, increase in the horizontal effective stress and stabilization of microstructure. Proper evaluation of the effect of improvement is important for estimating the seismic behavior of the ground improved by the sand compaction pile method. How to incorporate the effect and its factors into an analytical model was investigated by simulating the seismic behavior of the ground at two sites during the 1995 Hyogoken-Nambu earthquake with the effective stress analysis method “FLIP.” It was found that not only the increase in the density but also increase in the horizontal effective stress were important in explaining the effect of the sand compaction pile method. Moreover, a model taking account of both sand piles and the improved ground between them suggested a possibility of reproducing the behavior of improved ground under large ground motions more properly

Field survey of Fusarium stem rot of lisianthus ( Eustoma grandiflorum) cultivated in Okinawa, Japan

Lisianthus ( Eustoma grandiflorum) has become a major flowering plant in Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan. Its cultivation area has increased steadily with each passing year for two decades. Simultaneously, many types of lisianthus diseases related to damping-off symptoms have also increased dramatically. To create a strategy for preventing the disease, disease symptoms and pathogenic organisms of primary problematic disease with seasonal variation in the emergence were investigated. The symptoms were diagnosed as Fusarium stem rot (Kukigusare-byo) and the pathogen of the disease was identified as Fusarium avenaceum based on multigene sequences analyses. Indeed, the PCR result of the isolated strain in this study was the same as that isolated from lisianthus plants with Fusarium stem rot in Hokkaido Prefecture. Furthermore, the pathogen is clustered separately from the other F. avenaceum strains isolated from lisianthus in the USA. Diseased lisianthus plants spread throughout greenhouses even though several fungicides were applied. Additionally, they appeared from November to January and increased to 0.3% of the total number. Fusarium stem rot was found in 43.8% of the total number of farms from 2020–2021 in Okinawa Main Island

Correlation Functions of the XXZ model for Δ<−1\Delta<-1

A new approach to the correlation functions is presented for the XXZ model in the anti-ferroelectric regime. The method is based on the recent realization of the quantum affine symmetry using vertex operators. With the aid of a boson representation for the latter, an integral formula is found for correlation functions of arbitrary local operators. As a special case it reproduces the spontaneous staggered polarization obtained earlier by Baxter.Comment: 10 page

Bisphosphonate induces apoptosis and inhibits pro-osteoclastic gene expression in prostate cancer cells

金沢大学医学部附属病院泌尿器科Aim: Bisphosphonates are well established for the management of cancer-induced skeletal complications. Recent studies suggest that bisphosphonates promote apoptosis of cancer cells as well as osteoclasts in bone metastatic sites. To determine the direct effects of bisphosphonate on prostate cancer, we examined the effects of minodronate on prostatic cancer cell growth and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and osteoclastogenic factors. Methods: PC-3, DU145 and LNCaP cells were treated with amino-bisphosphonate minodronate. Then proliferation, apoptosis and expression of bcl-2, bax, poly (ADP)-ribose polymerase (PARP), caspase-3, receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2), and parathyroid hormone related protein (PTHrP) were assessed. Results: The proliferation of prostatic cancer cells was inhibited by minodronate. DNA fragmentation and TUNEL-positive nuclei were observed in minodronate-treated PC-3 cells. Minodronate decreased bcl-2 expression and induced bax expression, caspase-3 activity and degradation of PARP in DU145 and PC-3 cells. Minodronate decreased expression of RANKL, PTHrP and MMP-2 in PC-3 cells. Conclusions: Our results suggest that bisphosphonate not only promotes apoptosis directly but also decreases pro-osteoclastic gene expression in prostate cancer cells

Novel Variants in the CLCN1, RYR2, and DCTN1 Found in Elderly Japanese Dementia Patients: A Case Series

Dementia has an enormous impact on medical and financial resources in aging societies like Japan. Diagnosis of dementia can be made by physical and mental examinations, imaging tests, and findings of high abnormal proteins in cerebrospinal fluids. In addition, genetic tests can be performed in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). In this case series, we presented three cases of dementia with unknown causes who carry novel variants in the genes associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Three patients (Patients 1, 2, and 6) were found by screening 18 dementia patients using a gene panel including 63 genes. The age of onset for Patient 1 was 74 years old, and his father had PD and mother had AD. The age of onset for Patient 2 was 75 years old, and her mother had AD. The age of onset for Patient 6 was 83 years old, and her father, two sisters, and daughter had dementia. The Mini-Mental State Examination produced results of 20, 15, and 22, respectively. The suspected diagnosis by neurological examinations and imaging studies for Patients 1 and 2 was AD, and for Patient 6 was FTD. Patient 1 was treated with donepezil; Patient 2 was treated with donepezil and memantine; and Patient 6 was treated with donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine. The three rare variants identified were: CLCN1, encoding a chloride channel, c.2848G>A:p.Glu950Lys (Patient 1); RYR2, encoding a calcium releasing ryanodine receptor, c.13175A>G:p.Lys4392Arg (Patient 2); and DCTN1, encoding a subunit of dynactin, c. 3209G>A:p.Arg1070Gln (Patient 6). The detected variants were interpreted according to the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) guidelines. The minor allele frequency for each variant was 0.025%, 0.023%, and 0.0004% in East Asians, respectively. The DCTN1 variant found in Patient 6 might be associated with FTD. Although none of them were previously reported in dementia patients, all variants were classified as variants of unknown significance (VUS). Our report suggests that results of genetic tests in elderly patients with dementia need to be carefully interpreted. Further data accumulation of genotype-phenotype relationships and development of appropriate functional models are warranted

セイカツ シュウカン ト コツソショウショウ : キジャクセイ コッセツ ノ ヨボウ

Osteoporosis is a chronic skeletal condition characterized by impaired bone strength and increased risk of fracture. This disorder causes notable morbidity, deterioration in quality of life （QOL）and mortality in the elderly due to associated with fragility fractures of the spine, hip and wrist. Moreover, the treatment of osteoporotic fractures is also associated with a huge economic cost for society. To avoid the fragility fracture, prevention of osteoporosis and fall down are of great importance. For that purpose, not only pharmacological therapy（mainly by antiresorptive medications） in middle-aged and elderly individuals but also non-pharmacological intervention through lifestyle modification will become important in adolescents and young adults from the early life. Lifestyle modification emphasizing bone health such as adequate calcium, vitamin D and vitamin K nutrition, restriction of caffeine and alcohol consumption, and avoidance of tobacco are essential to the management of osteoporosis risk. Balance and strength training also play important roles in the improvement of bone strength. Most of the risk and preventive factors of osteoporosis are common to those of other lifestylerelated diseases. Therefore, lifestyle modification emphasizing bone health from the early life will contribute to avoid not only fragility fracture but also other lifestyle-related diseases, and will contribute to maintenance or improvement of QOL